Packers struggle to put away Jags, get by with 24-20 win
GREEN BAY, Wis. - Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdown passes and ran for a third score as the Green Bay Packers overcame numerous mistakes to rally for a 24-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
Rodgers put the Packers (7-2) ahead for good with 9:11 left by throwing a 6-yard TD pass to Davante Adams, who had left with an ankle injury earlier in the second half. Rodgers also had a 5-yard touchdown run and a 78-yard scoring strike to Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who caught four passes for a career-high 149 yards.
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 15: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates scoring his first running touchdown of the season in the 2nd quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lambeau Field on November 15, 2020 in Green Bay, Wiscon
Keelan Cole scored on a franchise-record 91-yard punt return and a 12-yard reception for Jacksonville (1-8), which lost its eighth straight. Jacksonville’s James Robinson rushed for 109 yards on 23 carries.
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Cole became the first Jaguar ever to score on a punt return and a reception in the same game, as well as the first player from any team ever to accomplish that feat against the Packers.
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 15: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers throws a touchdown pass under pressure against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2nd quarter at Lambeau Field on November 15, 2020 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan B
Jacksonville’s first drive after Adams’ touchdown stalled at midfield, but Jacksonville got the ball back on its 46 with 2:25 left after a 30-yard punt by JK Scott that followed a third-and-1 stop of Aaron Jones.
The Jaguars got as far as Green Bay’s 36, but back-to-back sacks by Rashan Gary and Preston Smith pushed them back to their own side of the field before Jake Luton threw incomplete on fourth-and-26 to seal Jacksonville’s fate.
Luton, who had thrown for 304 yards in his first career start last week, was 18 of 35 for 169 yards Sunday with one touchdown and one interception. Rodgers was 24 of 34 for 325 yards.
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 15: Members of the Green Bay Packers huddle following warm-ups before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lambeau Field on November 15, 2020 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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Green Bay entered the game as a two-touchdown favorite but had enough breakdowns to give Jacksonville hope. The Jaguars rallied from a 17-10 halftime deficit by scoring 10 points off turnovers in the second half.
Jacksonville’s first takeaway came early in the third quarter. CJ Henderson knocked the ball loose from Adams, and Myles Jack returned the fumble 16 yards to Green Bay’s 16. That set up Luton’s 12-yard touchdown pass across the middle to Cole.
Sidney Jones picked off Rodgers late in the third to set up Chase McLaughlin’s go-ahead, 31-yard field goal with 12:44 left in the game.
Penalties proved costly for both teams.
A holding penalty on Green Bay’s Billy Turner wiped out a 22-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Adams late in the second quarter, forcing the Packers to settle for Mason Crosby’s 39-yard field goal.
Jacksonville had James Robinson’s 18-yard touchdown run wiped out by a holding penalty on A.J. Cann during the fourth-quarter drive that ended with McLaughlin’s field goal. The Jaguars also had a touchdown nullified by a holding penalty on James O’Shaughnessy in the third period, though they still reached the end zone a few plays later on Cole’s reception.
Injury report
Jacksonville didn’t have wide receiver Laviska Shenault (ankle), center Brandon Linder (back) or safety Josh Jones (chest) available. Jones went on injured reserve Saturday. Running back Chris Thompson suffered a back injury in the first half.
Green Bay played without usual starting cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Kevin King. Green Bay’s injury report listed Alexander with a hand issue and a concussion. King missed a fifth straight game with a quadriceps injury. Running back/kick returner Tyler Ervin left with a rib injury in the first half.
Coaching shorthanded
Jaguars cornerbacks coach Tim Walton didn’t make the trip to Green Bay because of what the team described as personal reasons unrelated to COVID-19. Safeties coach Joe Danna filled Walton’s usual responsibilities.
Up next
The Jaguars host Pittsburgh.
The Packers visit Indianapolis.
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